The Eagles shook up their lineup on Sunday when coach Andy Reid said Akeem Jordan will replace Brian Rolle at weak-side linebacker when the Eagles close out the NFL preseason on Thursday night against the Jets.
Rolle won the job toward the end of last year, his rookie season, and he came into the spring minicamps and then training camp as the starter. But he never really grabbed hold of the job during camp and then struggled in the last two preseason games, so Reid decided to make a change.
Jordan has played all three linebacker positions in his five seasons with the Eagles and he’s started 27 games since joining the Eagles as an undrafted free agent from James Madison.
Reid also said that King Dunlap will remain as the starting left tackle and now it appears he’s won the job for opening day against the Browns on Sept. 9. Demetress Bell had been the starter until Reid replaced him two weeks ago.
Patterson’s future is cloudy: Reid said DT Mike Patterson won’t be ready for the season opener against the Browns and suggested Patterson might not be able to play the entire season. Patterson, who has started 106 of 117 games since joining the Eagles as a first-round pick in 2005, had off-season brain surgery to repair tangled blood vessels. That will open up a roster spot and the defensive line is the strongest and deepest unit on the team –- in fact, Reid said on Sunday that several teams have called to see if the Eagles are interested in trading any of them. If Patterson does open the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, that could open the door for a d-lineman on the bubble like DT Cedric Thornton or DE Darryl Tapp.
CB Cliff Harris released: The Eagles released CB Cliff Harris on Sunday, a day after they released 10 other players. Reid said Harris would have been cut on Saturday –- the players’ day off -- but the Eagles couldn’t get in touch with him. Harris is a rookie free agent from Oregon who showed flashes of talent during training camp and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him land on the practice squad.
This and that: Reid said QB Michael Vick’s bruised ribs are healing nicely and he could play in a game today if he had to. … QB Mike Kafka will have his broken left hand evaluated on Monday and Reid said he’s hopeful Kafka will be able to play in Thursday night’s preseason finale vs. the Jets. … Veteran Joselio Hanson has won his battle, at least for now, with rookie Brandon Boykin for the job as nickel CB. Reid said Hanson will sit out Thursday night along with the starters. … The Eagles will hold their annual “Flight Night’’ on Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field. Fans pay to watch a full practice and can also purchase Eagles memorabilia, and the first 10,000 kids will receive a DeSean Jackson bobble-head doll. The event starts at 7:30 and all proceeds go to the Eagles Youth Partnership.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSSportsNFLPHI.